The once-popular baby names now on the verge of extinction in Australia – so is yours on the list?
Baby names millions of parents loved in the ’90s and early 2000s are now rapidly falling out of fashion in Australia.
The latest Baby Names report by McCrindle reveals that many of the country’s once popular baby names are slipping – or have slipped – out of the top 100 and could soon disappear altogether.
For boys, the biggest drop has been the name Jake – which has plunged a significant 276 places in the rankings since 2010.
Once a classroom staple, the name is now close to extinction.
Other names that have seen significant declines include Tyler, Matthew, Hayden and Mitchell, all of which were in the top 40 just over a decade ago and are now out of the top 100.
Blake, Dylan, Connor, Nicholas and Luke, long considered safe and solid choices, have also fallen off the list.
And while traditional biblical names like Benjamin, Daniel and Jacob are declining, their counterparts – Noah, Elijah, Ezra and Levi – are on the rise, signalling a shift in taste among the parents of Gen Alpha.
For girls, it’s an even sharper fall.
Baby names millions of parents loved in the ’90s and early 2000s are now rapidly falling out of fashion in Australia
Jessica, once the ‘queen of baby names’ in Australia, has dropped 270 places since 2010.
At its peak in the mid-1990s, one in every 30 baby girls was named Jessica. Now, it’s barely used.
Other girls’ names following a similar path include Chelsea, Alyssa, Tahlia, Sarah, Holly, Madison, Hayley, Lilly and Lara – all of which have tumbled from their former top 40 positions and no longer appear in the top 100.
Even stylish favourites like Harlow, Quinn, Cleo and Thea have now been edged out of the top 100 in 2025, showing just how quickly trends can change.
So, why the sudden shift?
Experts say it’s all about originality.
Parents are increasingly looking for names that feel fresh but aren’t too ‘out-there’.
Shorter, punchier names with two syllables – like Isla, Leo, Luca and Mila – are dominating the charts, while old-fashioned, vintage-sounding names like Florence, Arthur and Violet are making strong comebacks.
Parents are increasingly looking for names that feel fresh but aren’t too out-there
Pop culture and global influence also play a huge role.
Names from streaming shows, viral TikTok trends and international celebrity babies are all shaping what Australian parents find fashionable.
According to McCrindle, today’s parents are after a name that feels stylish and unique – but still easy to pronounce at the playground.
But don’t be too quick to mourn the loss of Jessica or Jake just yet.
Naming trends are cyclical – what disappears now could make a triumphant return in 20 years as a ‘retro classic’.
